$62m raised for charity, a sanctuary for marginalised gamers, and a platform for indies: Why Games Done Quick is a beacon of hope for the gaming community

Should you learn numerous gaming information – or work with it, like I do – you can’t assist however change into a bit cynical generally. 2026 has been a brutal 12 months for the business, following an equally galling 2025. Beset by layoffs, harried by studio closures, and one way or the other staring down the barrel of the console wars once more, it is easy to really feel the jaded fingers of cynicism creeping in. However, twice a 12 months, I can really feel my cup replenish in realtime, my perception within the video games business – and humanity at massive, truthfully – buoyed by seven days of probably the most healthful, hopeful folks on the earth coming collectively to prop one another up, and lift hundreds of thousands for charity whereas they’re at it.

Video games Finished Fast, usually referred to by its acronym GDQ, is a speedrun marathon devoted to elevating cash for charities – mostly Medical doctors With out Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières and the Forestall Most cancers Basis. Its essential occasions run twice a 12 months (Superior Video games Finished Fast across the new 12 months, and Summer season Video games Finished Fast in June), and these are supplemented by extra frequent mini-events that increase cash for different charities. The only largest quantity ever raised by a single Video games Finished Fast occasion, thus far, is $3,416,729 – achieved by Superior Video games Finished Fast 2022 On-line. Provided that the primary ever occasion, manner again in 2010, raised about $10,000, you’ll be able to see how far the marathon has come.

However these particular person numbers are small fry in comparison with the general determine raised by the collective over the course of its 16-year historical past. „We at the moment stand at $62m raised for charity since we started,“ says Matt Merkle, co-owner and director of operations. And also you solely want to try the Forestall Most cancers Basis’s analysis web page to see what a direct affect the cash GDQ has raised is having. On the time of writing, eight analysis grants and fellowships title Video games Finished Fast as the explanation they will perform their analysis – funding studios into HPV-related most cancers in dental settings, cervical most cancers screening initiatives, enhancing the efficacy of vaccinations for childhood most cancers survivors, enhancing the tech for prostate most cancers screening, and far, rather more in addition to.

„We initially picked the Forestall Most cancers Basis as a result of we have been concerned with donating to a most cancers charity, however we wished to do one thing that was distinctive. Forestall Most cancers Basis would not simply search for a treatment; they search for methods to deal with most cancers earlier than it begins. That is one thing I feel might actually assist folks now, even earlier than we discover a treatment,“ explains Merkle.

Then there’s Médecins Sans Frontières, a non-profit organisation that operates in over 70 international locations world wide, offering healthcare assist and life-saving care to the people who want it most. MSF delivers emergency medical humanitarian help to folks affected by armed battle, epidemics, pure or man-made disasters, and exclusion from healthcare, primarily based solely on want and with out regard to race, faith, gender, or political affiliation. In July 2026, GDQ raised over $2m for the charity, and over $27m has been donated to MSF thus far.

„We picked Medical doctors With out Borders as a result of they’re a wonderful worldwide charity, and we wished to incorporate all of our international viewers,“ says Merkle. „This has been an incredible partnership, and we actually consider of their mission.“ If you wish to see the kind of affect the cash raised at Video games Finished Fast has, watch the video beneath. It is emotional, it is distressing, nevertheless it’s important. I might prefer to shout out GDQ common and famous person host Spikevegeta right here, who’s moved to tears by the content material of the video. You’ll be able to see how a lot it means to the folks within the present to be a part of elevating cash for this trigger. „Each single greenback you set in, each phrase that you simply ship, means a lot to folks across the planet,“ he says by means of tears, „and you’re doing good. I respect you all, I like you all, I’m proud to be a part of this group.“

– Return to Gaza, A Brief Video from MSF

Video games Finished Fast retains getting larger; this 12 months, the initiative has a presence at Gamescom for the primary time ever, and not too long ago GDQ expanded to stream dwell on Youtube, in addition to Twitch. However its organisers are reluctant to lose sight of the marathon’s origins because it continues to develop. „I feel the largest takeaway through the years is that we attempt to stay grounded within the grassroots efforts of GDQ’s origin, and honouring the group in how occasions are structured,“ says Ashley Farkas, co-owner and enterprise director of GDQ, once I ask how the organisation’s experiences thus far have influenced the place it’s going to go subsequent. „With out the employees, volunteers, runners, companions, and group at massive, these occasions wouldn’t have the affect they do. There are challenges in fundraising, particularly in peer-to-peer occasions the place it will possibly really feel a bit transactional – and the GDQ groups work tirelessly to create a second in time the place we’re constructing an expertise that folks wish to be part of. GDQ creates the infrastructure, however the group provides the occasions their character.“

In addition to elevating cash for charity on-line, Video games Finished Fast additionally affords one thing very particular within the video games area as a bodily entity: a way of security and intimacy. You solely must look at an hour or so of a stream to understand that this can be a group. Individuals right here know one another, respect one another, assist one another. Volunteers, organisers, runners and employees coexist with a simple rapport, the chemistry and good vibes so palpable you’ll be able to really feel them by means of your monitor.

„Completely,“ replies Merkle, once I ask him if this sense of group is a part of the explanation the marathon is so profitable. „The volunteers have been an immense assist, and I do not assume we might pull off this occasion with out them. The group has been fantastic through the years. You’ll be able to see simply how a lot they assist the charities if you see the gang celebrating and cheering after we crack a brand new objective.“

I discover GDQ a sort-of North Star for what gaming communities and areas ought to really feel like. In addition to the nice it does for charity – you’ll be able to’t argue with these numbers – it’s also a haven for speedrunners. Lots of the runners, commentators, organisers and guests of Video games Finished Fast occasions are trans. On-line and IRL areas are sometimes hostile locations for trans folks, but GDQ has change into an area the place ‚trans rights!‘ is shouted each 10 minutes or so (on the very least!) and also you routinely see folks sporting the trans flag, and see trans folks supporting one another in livestreams or dwell, proper there on the sofa.

However this sense of security did not occur by chance. GDQ has a really stringent algorithm that attendees should observe, each within the bodily areas the marathons occupy or within the chats alongside the Youtube or Twitch streams. I have to particularly shout out the no-nonsense moderators GDQ and its hosts use right here: there’s completely no tolerance of hatred or bigotry, and that has resulted on this area the place queer and trans individuals are free to exist as they please, free from the specter of intolerance that’s so prevalent world wide in 2026.

Other than charity fundraising and turning into a hub of group safeguarding, indie recreation builders profit from the present, too. I have been watching the marathon for over 10 years now, and I’ve picked up god is aware of what number of video games on account of their being featured as a part of the livestream. A spotlight is Small Saga, an indie RPG harking back to the Redwall books combined with Last Fantasy Ways, one way or the other. I noticed Queuety speedrun this recreation, made by solo developer Darya Noghani, and picked it up instantly in January of this 12 months. Bat to the Heavens, an indie platformer, has additionally seen the affect that GDQs 60,000 to 95,000 concurrent viewers can have. „Proper after the AGDQ run [of Bat to the Heavens], there was a big burst in gross sales and wishlists I have not seen since I initially launched the sport,“ developer Ceroro advised The Verge earlier this 12 months.

So what’s subsequent for GDQ? To me, it seems like there is a sense of optimism in Farkas and Merkle – that the seeds they’re planting can encourage others within the gaming area, too. The organisers after all need the GDQ marathons to proceed effectively into the long run, however there’s additionally a want they share for the video games business to higher complement the work they’re doing. „I want to see philanthropy in gaming proceed to develop typically, and GDQ will all the time attempt to be part of that – however we finally wish to see extra firms and organisations participating the group at massive in significant methods,“ says Farkas. „GDQ is a house for anybody, and if we glance forward in 10 years, I hope extra folks see GDQ as a spot the place they’re all the time welcomed.“

„Regardless of all the pieces that’s taking place within the business and the world, the group hasn’t misplaced their compassion for each other,“ provides Merkle. „The communities round video games proceed to be inventive, beneficiant, and prepared to point out up for one another. That kindness doesn’t simply disappear as a result of the business goes by means of a tricky time. So long as folks proceed to search out connection by means of video games, I feel there’s so much to remain hopeful about.“

This piece is part of Optimism Week on Eurogamer – every week of options both about optimism itself or these which hope to encourage it. For extra articles like this, you’ll be able to go to our Optimism Week hub. Thanks as ever for studying!